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I still believed it was her, but there was no point in arguing with both of the? Ready to go to the hospital?"

John let out an exasperated sound "We already discussed this I’ to the hospital There’s no need"

I crossed my arms over my chest and stood as tall as I could "You haven’tand your breathing is wheezy and shallow Re At the very least, you cracked so if I took off your shirt, I’d find bruises and ans" I stared at hi? Take a good deep breath Or just stand up and walk across the roo up blood like you did outside, that is"

The staring match continued until his eyes shifted Uh-huh

Bruno let out a little chuckle that was three parts amused and one part worried "You won’t win this one, Creede You can’t iine how stubborn she is on stuff that o through one of the back entrances I’ll even introduce you to Dr Gaetano He’ll keep it quiet Plus, you really do want to get tested for the disease This is a et a bu that sealed the deal "If they ask, we can say we ran into a group of vama in the press"

Stuff that matters to her I didn’t focus onto Bruno more than once Because it estured to the passport "And bodyguards don’t get the shit kicked out of them" It was a lame excuse from John and wasn’t even true

I let out a rude noise that was close to a raspberry "Bullcrap We es don’t, but the rest of us regularly get punched and kicked around We just tend to give as good as we get This tie to it "But there’s always next ti friends to the party"

Bruno likewise serously, at my expression and probably at me to kick some tail in retribution for a friend? Sure

"I suppose it won’t hurt to have the leg X-rayed There’s still a little stinging going on Could be a faulty char was normal until after an hour, which it hadn’t been But fine Whatever justification he needed "Great You guys take off and I’ll et some food in me"

Bruno helped John up and I watched carefully to see if the leg would hold his weight It did, but I could tell it would be slow going down the stairs John took a few tentative steps, testing his s on to the rail going down And go slow"

He gavehis chair out of John’s way "We’ll be fine" He stepped into the hallith John close on his heels "C’mon I’m parked out front"

That’s when I noticed the small blue book still inht squeeze

"Thanks" He didn’t smile, but his eyes did and I knew that the sentiment was for more than just the papers "See you soon"

"Yep"

I listened to their slow descent while I got out ofto have to burn the clothes Nobody’d told me to, but it just made sense, and they were ruined anyway It hadn’t escapedborrowed scrubs My braid was still hanging in there with the exception of a few strands Still, it felt weird, so I took out the band and bobby pins and brushed it out Soft waves fraood

I stripped down, showered, and shah Just thinking about the zombie made me shudder I had to scrub every inch of me doice before I really felt clean It wasn’t until I climbed out and shut off the water that I heard a fa to John and Bruno downstairs I hastily yanked onover the stairs to confir here on a Sunday?"

"I sawtoday and it seems the others in the vision are here as well Please corabbed h ed portion of the reception area John was already in a chair, looking a little too pale for my taste It made him look older than Dottie Dottie is a little ball of fire, despite her age With her bright eyes, warm smile, and vivid blue war Dottie’s walker, complete with carry basket and the requisite chopped tennis balls on the front feet, was next to the couch and her silver and crystal viewing boas on the table, along with a bottle of holy water Bruno was pulling two more chairs around for us to sit on the other side of the table

She looked at John "Have you ever had a reading of a past event, younghe wasn’t trusting hi He looked ateyes and spoke directly intohe’s a telepath and while I try to believe he’s ethical about it, I wondered just howaround in my mind upstairs had been "overheard" He didn’t say a word, just quirked one corner of his mouth in a smile and returned his attention to Dottie